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3D concrete printing project highlights potential for faster, more efficient construction in Western Australia.
Contec Australia has delivered the country’s first multi-storey home built using 3D concrete printing, completing a two-storey residence in Tapping, Perth, in just five months. The project marks a significant advancement in Australia’s adoption of automated concrete construction and positions Contec as a leading player in the space. (main image: Contec Australia’s first multi-storey 3D printed concrete home.)
The structural walls were printed in just 18 hours of active printing time using Contec Australia’s mobile robotic 3D concrete printer. The printer uses a proprietary concrete mix applied layer by layer without the need for formwork or scaffolding. The material sets in under three minutes and achieves a compressive strength of 50 MPa—well above the 15 MPa typically found in standard bricks.
As Western Australia continues to face skilled labour shortages and rising construction costs, 3D concrete printing presents a viable, scalable alternative to traditional building methods. According to Contec Australia, the robotic system is compact and site-ready, able to print at speeds of up to 500mm per second. Its compact size and mobility enable use on both confined urban sites and remote regional projects.
“Meeting future housing demand will require more than traditional approaches alone,” said Mark D’Alessandro, founder of Contec Australia. “3D concrete printing offers an innovative solution that complements existing methods, delivering projects with greater speed, cost efficiencies, sustainability, and design flexibility.”
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Contec’s 3D printed concrete walls are cyclone-rated, thermally efficient, and resistant to fire, water, and termites. The digital design process also enables complex architectural elements—such as curved walls, structural columns, and built-in service penetrations—to be produced with high precision and no additional time or cost.
The company’s proprietary concrete mix generates 30 per cent fewer CO₂ emissions than traditional concrete, and each build produces minimal waste—approximately one wheelbarrow per project.
The in-situ nature of Contec’s 3D concrete printing process also aligns with existing construction finance models, making it a practical choice for developers and builders seeking innovative methods without the financing barriers often associated with modular construction.
D’Alessandro, a qualified builder and quantity surveyor, brings nearly 20 years of residential and commercial construction experience to the venture. According to company sources, Contec now offers 3D concrete printing services to builders across Western Australia, enabling faster, safer, and more sustainable project delivery.
See: Contec Australia
